something summery this way comes (some #instacamp inspiration)

When my sister and I were kids, my parents would periodically make a point of taking us out to a nice restaurant -- where "nice" means "had napkins that didn't come out of a table dispenser." The purpose of these dinners, they said, was to make sure that we knew how to conduct ourselves in polite company -- you know, learn the proper way to hold dining utensils, how to engage in polite dinner conversation, and generally give the impression that we weren't raised by wolves.

(I'm discussing fine dining and eating like a lady over at Bliss Your Heart. Please go take a look, but fair warning -- there's food porn.)

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Lovely people, I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying your summer-filled #instacamp photos! As promised, the following are some of my favourites -- be sure to click the images to visit the photographers' sites (or photostreams, if I can't find a website). Thanks so much for participating in our little virtual summer camp. Also, if you've shot for #instacamp this week (or will be shooting over the weekend), please leave the link to your favourite shot you took in the comments, below. (They won't be hyperlinked, unfortunately -- I'm working on making that happen -- but I promise to look at all of them. Remember, just to get started, think "summer" when you take your shots.) And just for fun, on Sunday, I"ll pick a commenter at random to win a signed copy of The Beauty of Different, inscribed to whomever you'd like, as well as an EcoSystem journal, my favourite journal -- and you know how I love to to journal -- especially lately, using the images I take with my camera phone.

On Monday, I'll announce our very first #instacamp prompt for week 1 of our summer camp, so get those camera phones warmed up. Again, I'll feature my favourites of those who shot to the prompt on Friday, and we'll do another giveaway then. Sound like fun? I can't wait to see your work.

For now, though, here's some summer awesome captured by some of the great camera photographers around the web (don't forget to click on the photos!):

"Purple! Jacaranda tree, SoCal" by Peggi

"Afternoon iced tea in a Micky Mouse glass" by C.C. Chapman

"Don't do it!" by Erika Diehl

"What were the skies like when you were young?" by Michael Morgan

And finally, because it's June 1st and these photographs do a great job of setting the tone for summer, my June Chookooloonks playlist. This month, I tried to create a soundtrack for the perfect summer day, from morning to night. I hope you enjoy -- click here to listen.

Update: According to Random.org, the winner of the journal and the signed copy of The Beauty of Different is Jill Finger, who said in the comments below: "This is how we spent our day yesterday. Ahhh, summer." Congrats, Jill! Please email me so I can get you your books.

Thanks to everyone who shared their beautiful camera phone photos! Never fear, there will be mere will be more awesome summer reading giveaways during the rest of this month's #instacamp -- stay tuned for tomorrow's prompt!